Abstract
Starbug is a new concept for a robotic positioning system able to deploy many payloads, such as pickoff optics, optical fibres, integral field units over the focal surface of a telescope. Aimed at addressing some of the weakness of current positioning systems, Starbug employs micro-robotic actuators to independently and simultaneously position multiple small payloads accurately on an arbitrarily large field plate. Targeted at offering a cost-effective positioning system for both optical and infrared instrumentation it is being developed to; operate in cryogenic environments, position to micron level resolution, simultaneous move arbitrary numbers of payloads and included micro-tracking for minor positional adjustments that could compensate for differential atmospheric refraction effects and instrument flexure.
Original language | English |
---|---|
Pages (from-to) | 329-331 |
Number of pages | 3 |
Journal | New Astronomy Reviews |
Volume | 50 |
Issue number | 4-5 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Jun 2006 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Micro-robotic
- Payloads
- Pickoffs
- Positioning system
- Starbug